EP3440255A1

EP3440255A1 - Laundry dryer having a door with improved usability

Info

Publication number: EP3440255A1
Application number: EP16715313.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Onur MUHIDDIN; Isik Ozyaka; Volkan CERKEZ; Caglar Celik; Adem KAYTAZ
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2016-04-08
Filing date: 2016-04-08
Publication date: 2019-02-13
Also published as: WO2017174157A1; TR201705208A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising: a drum; an aperture for accessing the drum; a door (1b) for pivotably opening/closing the aperture; a handle (2) disposed onto the door (1b); and a fastening means (3) for manually fastening the door (1b) to main body (1a) at the closed position. The fastening means (3) has a latch (4) and a catch (4a) which resiliently engage with or disengage from each other respectively when the door (1b) is pressed towards or pulled away from the closed position.

Description

LAUNDRY DRYER HAVING A DOOR WITH IMPROVED USABILITY

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance such as a laundry dryer or a laundry washer-and-dryer. The present invention more particularly relates to the door of the laundry treatment appliance.
Laundry dryers are commonly known in the art. A laundry dryer generally comprises: a main body which comprises a drum for receiving the articles to be dried; an aperture for allowing the user to access the drum; a door for pivotably opening/closing the aperture; and a handle which is disposed onto the door. The laundry dryer is generally provided without a locking means, but with a fastening means for fastening the door to main body at the closed position so as to enable the user to open/close the door also during the operation. Thereby the risk to the safety of the user can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible. The fastening means generally comprises a latch and a catch which resiliently engage with or disengage from each other respectively when the door is pressed towards the closed position or pulled away from the closed position at least through a threshold force. This threshold force is prescribed by international standards for the household appliance manufacturers. The door must not open during the operation through the mechanical stress exerted by the agitated articles or the circulating process air inside the rotating drum. Therefore, this threshold force is determined in accordance with such requirements.
US20040107598A1 discloses a laundry dryer which has a door that is provided with a fastening means as specified above.
A problem with the prior art laundry dryers is that many user have difficulties in opening the door since they cannot easily overcome the predetermined threshold force, and thus the users cannot smoothly open the door.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a laundry dryer having a door which overcomes the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost-effective way and which enables an improved production, assemblage and usability.
This objective has been achieved by the laundry dryer as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claim.
In the laundry dryer of the present invention, the handle comprises a lever which includes a first lever arm that can be manipulated by the user and a second lever arm that is configured to be pressed onto the main body, and to push the door away from the main body when the first lever arm is manipulated by the user and/or configured to be pressed onto the catch and to disengage the catch from the latch when the first lever arm is manipulated by the user, wherein in the latter configuration the latch is disposed onto the door and the catch is disposed on the main body. In the present invention the lever may be configure in three different ways. In the present invention, the term “laundry dryer” should not be understood in the narrow sense and may also refer to a laundry dryer having a laundry washing function as in the combined type laundry washer-and-dryer.
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the door can be easily opened by virtue of the leverage, and thus the user can be relieved from applying the predetermined threshold force required for releasing the fastening means, and can be further enabled to open the door by applying a comparatively weaker force to the first lever arm. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the laundry dryer can be prevented from becoming dislocated from its position on the floor to the front side as the door can be opened by the user by applying a comparatively weaker force. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the laundry dryer has been rendered more user-friendly. Thereby, the user satisfaction can be further improved.
In an embodiment, a pusher is pivotably disposed onto the second lever arm. The pusher has a seating surface which is pressed onto the front surface of the main body (1a) so as to push the door away from the main body (1a) when the first lever arm is manipulated. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the contact between the second lever arm and the main body (1a) can be improved during the opening of the door, and thus the door can be opened more smoothly.
Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the laundry dryer of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 – is a schematic partial front view of the laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 – is a schematic rear view of the door of the laundry dryer in Fig. 1;
Figure 3 – is a schematic perspective view of the handle of the door in Fig.1, wherein the first lever arm is in the released position;
Figure 4 – is a schematic perspective view of the handle of the door in Fig.1, wherein the first lever arm is in the pulled position;
Figure 5 – is a schematic partial sectional view of the frontal wall of the laundry dryer in Fig.1, taken along the line A-A, when the door is in the closed position, and wherein the first lever arm is in the released position;
Figure 6 – is a schematic partial sectional view of the frontal wall of the laundry dryer in Fig.1, taken along the line A-A, when the door is in an opened position, and wherein the first lever arm is in the pulled position.
The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Laundry dryer

1a. Main body
1b. Door

Handle
Fastening means
Latch

4a. Catch
5. Lever
6. First lever arm
7. Second lever arm
8. Pusher
8a. Hinge
8b. Hole
9. Seating surface
10. Pivoting pin
11. Bearing
12. Body
13. Attachment means
14. Frame
15. Screw
The laundry dryer (1) comprises: a main body (1a) which comprises a drum for receiving the articles to be dried; and an aperture for allowing the user to access the drum (Fig. 1). The laundry dryer (1) further comprises a door (1b) for pivotably opening/closing the aperture, wherein the door (1b) is movable between an open position and a closed position; a handle (2) which is disposed onto the door (1b); and a fastening means (3) for fastening the door (1b) to the main body (1a) at the closed position (Fig. 5). The fastening means (3) has a latch (4) and a spring-loaded catch (4a) (the spring is not shown) which resiliently engage with or disengage from each other respectively when the door (1b) is pressed towards the closed position or pulled away from the closed position at least through a predetermined threshold force. One of the latch (4) and the catch (4a) is disposed onto the door (1b) whereas the other one is disposed onto the main body (1a) (Fig. 5 and Fig. 6).
In the laundry dryer (1) of the present invention, the handle (2) comprises: a lever (5) which includes a first lever arm (6) that can be manipulated by the user and a second lever arm (7) that is configured to be pressed onto the main body (1a) and to push the door (1b) away from the main body (1a) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user and/or configured to be pressed (not shown) onto the catch (4a) and to disengage the catch (4a) from the latch (4) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user, wherein in the latter configuration the latch (4) is disposed onto the door (1b) and the catch (4a) is disposed on the main body (1a).
In alternative embodiments, the lever (5) is provided in three different configurations respectively. Only the first configuration has been shown in the drawings (Fig. 1 to 6). In the first configuration, one of the latch (4) and the catch (4a) is disposed onto the door (1b) whereas the other one is disposed onto the main body (1a). In the first configuration, the second lever arm (7) is configured to be pressed onto the main body (1a) and to push the door (1b) away from the main body (1a) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user (Fig. 1 to 6).
In the second configuration, the latch (4) is disposed onto the door (1b) and the catch (4a) is disposed on the main body (1a). In the second configuration, the second lever arm (7) is configured to be pressed onto the catch (4a) and to disengage the catch (4a) from the latch (4) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user.
In the third configuration, the latch (4) is disposed onto the door (1b) and the catch (4a) is disposed on the main body (1a). In the third configuration, the second lever arm (7) is configured to be pressed onto the main body (1a) and to push the door (1b) away from the main body (1a) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user and the second lever arm (7) is also configured to be pressed onto the catch (4a) and to disengage the catch (4a) from the latch (4) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user.
In another embodiment, the handle (2) further comprises a pusher (8) which is pivotably disposed onto the second lever arm (7). In this embodiment, the pusher (8) has a seating surface (9) that is adapted to be pressed onto the front surface of the main body (1a) (Fig.3 and Fig.4), and/or onto the catch (4a), and to push the door (1b) away from the main body (1a) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user.
In another embodiment, the pusher (8) is pivotably disposed onto the second lever arm (7) by means of one or more hinges (8a) (Fig.3 and Fig.4).
In another embodiment, the lever (5), including the first lever arm (6) and the second lever arm (7), is provided in form of a single piece. In this embodiment, the fulcrum of the lever (5) is defined through two pivoting pins (10) which are integrally formed with the lever (5), and two bearings (11) which receive the pivoting pins (10) respectively. In this embodiment, the two bearings (11) are formed into the body (12) of the handle (2). In the present invention, the length of the first lever arm (6) is longer than the length of the second lever arm (7) with reference to the fulcrum so as to achieve the leverage (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).
In another embodiment, the body (12) of the handle (2) has an attachment means (13) for attaching the same by means of screws (15) to the frame (14) of the door (1b) (Fig. 2 to Fig. 4).
In another embodiment, the body (12) conceals the lever (5) and the pusher (8) from the front side when the door (1b) is in the closed position (Fig. 1).
In another embodiment, the latch (4) is disposed onto the door (1) (Fig. 1). In this embodiment, the catch (4a) is disposed onto the main body (1a). The catch (4a) is spring loaded and, according to a preferable embodiment of the invention illustrated in the attached figures, it is rotatably disposed onto he main body (1a) and resiliently engages with or disengages from the latch (4) (Fig. 5 and Fig 6).
In another embodiment, the pusher (8) has a hole (8b), wherein the latch (4) is inserted through such hole (8b) (Fig. 3 and Fig 4). In this embodiment the pusher (8) is designed to surround the latch (4), thus applying a more effective force in particular onto the main body (1a) of the laundry dryer (1).
In another embodiment, the laundry dryer (1) is provided as a laundry washer-and-dryer.
In the subsequent description, the opening/closing of the door (1b) will be briefly explained by way of example and in accordance with the first configuration illustrated in the attached figures. First the user holds the handle (2), and pulls the first lever arm (6) (Fig. 4). The lever (5) rotates about the fulcrum with the movement of the first lever arm (6). Simultaneously, the second lever arm (7), in particular the pusher (8) is pressed onto the main body (1a), and pushes the door (1b) away from the main body (1a) (Fig. 6). Thereby, the latch (4) and the catch (4a) of the door (1b) become disengaged from each other (Fig. 6). By virtue of the leverage, the door (1b) can be opened with a force less than the predetermined threshold force that is required for disengaging the latch (4) and the catch (4a) in the absence of the lever (5). When closing the door (1b), the user holds the handle (2) without manipulating the first lever arm (7), and pushes the door (1b) onto the main body (1a) (Fig. 3 and Fig. 5).
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the door (1b) can be easily opened by virtue of the leverage, and thus the user can be relieved from applying the predetermined threshold force required for releasing the fastening means (3), and can be further enabled to open the door (1b) by applying a comparatively weaker force to the first lever arm (6). Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the laundry dryer (1) can be prevented from becoming dislocated to the front side when the door (1b) is opened by the user. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the laundry dryer (1) has been rendered more user-friendly. Thereby, the user satisfaction can be further improved. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above described embodiments.

Claims

A laundry dryer (1) comprising: a main body (1a) which comprises a drum for receiving the articles to be dried; an aperture for allowing the user to access the drum; a door (1b) for pivotably opening/closing the aperture; a handle (2) which is disposed onto the door (1b); a fastening means (3) for fastening the door (1b) to the main body (1a) at the closed position, wherein the fastening means (3) has a latch (4) and a spring-loaded catch (4a) which resiliently engage with or disengage from each other respectively when the door (1b) is pressed towards the closed position or pulled away from the closed position, characterized in that the handle (2) comprises a lever (5) which includes a first lever arm (6) that can be manipulated by the user and a second lever arm (7) that is configured to be pressed onto the main body (1a) and to push the door (1b) away from the main body (1a) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user and/or configured to be pressed onto the catch (4a) and to disengage the catch (4a) from the latch (4) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user, wherein in the latter configuration the latch (4) is disposed onto the door (1b) and the catch (4a) is disposed on the main body (1a).
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the latch (4) and the catch (4a) is disposed onto the door (1b) whereas the other one is disposed onto the main body (1a), wherein the second lever arm (7) is configured to be pressed onto the main body (1a) and to push the door (1b) away from the main body (1a) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user.
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the latch (4) is disposed onto the door (1b) and the catch (4a) is disposed on the main body (1a), wherein the second lever arm (7) is configured to be pressed onto the main body (1a) and to push the door (1b) away from the main body (1a) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user and the second lever arm (7) is further configured to be pressed onto the catch (4a) and to disengage the catch (4a) from the latch (4) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user.
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the latch (4) is disposed onto the door (1b) and the catch (4a) is disposed on the main body (1a), wherein the second lever arm (7) is configured to be pressed onto the catch (4a) and to disengage the catch (4a) from the latch (4) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user.
The laundry dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle (2) further comprises a pusher (8) which is pivotably disposed onto the second lever arm (7).
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 5, wherein the pusher (8) has a seating surface (9) that is adapted to be pressed onto the front surface of the main body (1a) and to push the door (1b) away from the main body (1a) when the first lever arm (6) is manipulated by the user.
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 5 or 6, the pusher (8) is pivotably disposed onto the second lever arm (7) by means of one or more hinges (8a).
The laundry dryer (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the body (12) of the handle (2) conceals the lever (5) and the pusher (8) from the front side when the door (1b) is in the closed position.
The laundry dryer (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the pusher (8) has a hole (8b), wherein the latch (4) is inserted into the hole (8b).
The laundry dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (5), including the first lever arm (6) and the second lever arm (7) are provided in form of a single piece, wherein the fulcrum of the lever (5) is defined through two pivoting pins (10) which are integrally formed with the lever (5), and two bearings (11) which receive the pivoting pins (10) respectively, and wherein the two bearings (11) are formed into the body (12) of the handle (2).
The laundry dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (12) of the handle (2) has an attachment means (13) for attaching the same by means of screws (15) to the frame (14) of the door (1b).